Means for automatically delivering the milk from the vacuum-pipes of milking-machines.



C. E. GANE. MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING THE MILK FROM THE VACUUM PIPES 0F MILKING MACHINES.

APPLIGATIOH FILED mm. 31, 1909.

950,385. I. I if Patented Feb.22,1910.

P CYm L EDMUND GAME,

Aiioruej.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE.

GYRIL EDMUND GANE, 0F NORMANBY, NEW ZEALAND.

MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING THE MILK FROM THE VACUUM-PIPES OF MILKING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Apgust 81, 1909.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Serial No. 515,503.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYnIL EDMUND GANE, subject of. the King of Great Britain, residing at Normanby, in the Dominion of New Zealand, havemventeda new and use-. ful Means for Automatically Deliverin the Milk from the Vacuum-Pipes of Mil ing- Machincs; and I do hereby declare the to lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention has been designed in order to provide means whereby the milk flowing along the main vacuum pipe in a milking machine installation, may be automatically delivered from such pipe into a milkreceiver, without having to break the vacuum or to stop the milk flow.

The invention has been designed specially for use in conjunction with those classes of milking machine installations in which-the milk from the whole or a series of the teat cup sets, is drawn up into a main vac um pipe and carried to a receivin ta in which a vacuum is maintained. eng this tank becomes filled, it is necessary in d der to empty it, to stop the milking operations, and then to break the vacuum and allow the milk to run from the tank. \Vith the present invention, the flow of milk along the pipe will be continuous,'the draw of the vacuum will also be continuous and the milk will be automatically released or delivered from the pipe into a receiving tank, which is not connected with the source of vacuum. The means provided for this purpose consist of a tipping frame upon which a pair of cans are mounted, so that as the frame tips, one can will be raised and the other lowered and vice versa. Thesecans and frame are arranged below the main milk pipe and so as to rock or tip transversely therewith. The milk pipe is broken awa and its ends are arranged to butt at rig it angles against pipe connections leading into the to s of the respective cans. and so arrange that the raised-can will be in full communication with such ipe so that the vacuum will act through it and draw the milk into it, while the other can"is7'eiitofi' from the pipe and opeued to the atmosphere. The raised can drops when it becomes filled with milk, and as it does so, it is automatically cut off from the pipe, while the other can, as it rises, is automatically placed in communication with such pipe, so that the dro'p, the valves will 0 milk will flow into it in turn. Each can is provided with a gravity valve in its bottom,

which is adapted to automatically open when the can is lowered and to close when the can is raised. Thus, as the filled cans on, so that the milk wil flow into a suita le receptacle placed beneath to receive it. These 0' erations are then continued, each can as it is filled, dro pingand opening its outlet valve, whie raising the other can, and closing its outlet valve, in order that it may in turn be filled.

Means are provided for restraining the tip inmof the frame and cans until each can is lied to the required amount.

In order that the invention may be properly undcrstood,reference will bemadc to the accompany ng sheet of drawings, in whieh,+-

Figure 1 is a. side elevation, and Fi 2 a plan of the means devised. Fig. 3 is a %etail sectionalview on an enlarged scale, of the joint between the milk pipe and the can connections. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the outlet valve on each can,

in such framework so as to be adapted to swing to and fro therein. This ti ping frame is so shaped as to be capable o supporting the cans C and D placed thereon, one on each side'of the iivot, so that they counterbalance one another, and serve to keepthc frame normally level.

Ifl'iS the ordinary vacuum and milk tube leading from the several milking sets to the source of vacuum, and \vhiclu in this invention, is divided into two portions so as to allow of the insertion of the invention be tween the divided ends.

F, F are a pair of parallel pi )es that extend across between the to s of t 10 two cans C and l), and enter hoti of them. The through passage from can to can throu '11 these pipes is prevented by the block f (Fig. 3) inserted in each pipe at about midway in its length. Each pipe is provided on its outcr sideywnh a pair of openings G, H, formed therein one on each side of the block f so that the-openings G of both tubes com- --municate with the can (I, while the openings pipe It, and so that the respective pipes F lit) slowly until lie at right angles across the divided ends sf sects pipe. Attached to each of such ends is a sleeve J which wholly or partially encircles the corresponding pipe F so that when the tipping frame is rocked on its pivot so as to move the cans u and down, these pipes F will slide to an fro withm such sleeves. The openings G, H,'in the pipes are so dis osed with relation to each other, and the s eeves J, that when the can C is in the raised position shown in Fig. 1, the openings G will be fully envelo e m the sleeves, and will be coincident wit the open ends of the pipes E while the openings H in such pipes will be shut oil from the open ends of the pipes E and will be partially uncovered from the sleeve (as shown in Fig. 3). Thus, the can C will be placed n uninterrupted communication with the p1pe E, so that the vacuum acting through such pi e will draw the milk into the can. At t e same time, the can D will be open to the atmosphere through the partially uncovered openings H. \Vhen the can C is lowered and the can D raised, the positions will be reversed, and the can D laced into com-. munication with the pi e while air is admitted to the can C. lhe the cans with their tipping frame depend upon the filling of each can in turn, so that the weight of the milk flowing into it, will cause it to drop and cut off communication with the milk supply and at the same time raise the other can into communication therewith. In order that the frame'may be prevented from thus tipping until. each can in the raised position, is full or up roximately full of milk, a block K is secure to one side of the frame and formed with a pair of o positely inclined cam faces on its undersidz. A counterweighted crank lever M is pivoted in the framework, and the crank end of such lever underlies the cam faces of the block K and by reason of the counterweight, serves to hold the frame B from tipping. As, however, the weight of milk in the raised can reaches the amount determined on, the inclined cam faces will tend to slide over the lever, and will tip it and thereby allow the frame to swing across to the other side. The crank end of the lever will then engage with the op osite cam face of the block and retain the ramc from tipping again until the can then in the raised position, becomes fully weighted with milk. The amount of milk necessary to overcome the action of the lever M may he re lated by ad'usting the position of the weiil; upon such lever. The cam faces being arranged in the manner shown will provide for the frame tippin the apex of the block has passe over the crank when the rest of the movement will be accelerated. Blocks N are fixed tolimit the movements of the tipping frame.

Each of the cans is provided with an outbein se movements of let opening in its bottom, such opening being governed by the ball valve 0 which is mounted on a counterweighted arm P so adjusted that it will act as an exact counterpoise for the valve. When, therefore, the can rises and alters its center of gravity by inclinin inward to a eater degree, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the ball will be caused to rise and block the outlet, assisted in retaining its seat thereon by he draw of the vacuum in the can to which it will then be subjected. When the can falls again, this movement will be reversed, and the ball will swing down away from the outlet so as to open it. The actions of the valve will be assisted by the accelerated movement of the frame during the latter portion of its movement and to the sudden stoppage thereof by the engagementof the frame with one or other of the blocks N. Consequently, as each can when filled, swings down, its outlet valve will be opened so that the milk will flow from the can into a receptacle placed beneath to receive it, such outflow being assisted and allowed for by the admission of the air to the top of the can in the manner indicated.

- The Ipositions of the openings G, H, in the pipes will be so governed with regard to the open ends of the pipe E that each can, as it rises, will be placed in communication with such ipe before the other is entirely put off. This will serve to prevent an breakdown of the vacuum suction through the pipe E, and anyv stoppage of the milking operations.

What I do claim as my invention, and dcsire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. Means for the purposes herein described, consisting of a pair of cans carried on op osite ends of a rocking frame arrange to rock transversely beneath the main vacuum-milk pipe and means whereby each of such cans may be alternately placed in communication with the pipe and with the atmosphere, while the other can is in communication alternately with the atmosphere, and with the ipe, substantially as specified.

2. Means .or the purpose herein described, comprising in combination, a supporting framework,a rocking frame pivoted withinsuch framework, a pair of cans carried one on each end of the rocking frame, a main milk-vacuum pipe extending transversely across between the cans, connections exten ing between the cans and intercepting such pipe and so constructed that as the frame roc s to raise each can in turn, such raised can will be laced in communication with the pipe, whi e the lowered can is cut off from communication therewith, and/an outlet valve in the bottom of each can adapted t -utomatically op n and close with the fall and rise of the can, substantially as specified.

3. In means for automatically delivering the milk from the vacuum pipes of milking machines, in combination, a pivoted rocking frame arranged to rock transversely beneath the vacuum milk pipe, a pair of cans supported one upon'each end of such frame, connections extending between the cans and intercepting the main vacuum milk pipe, :1 block having oppositely inclined cam faces on its underside, secured upon the rocking frame and a counterweighted crank lever pivoted beneath such block and arranged with its crank end bearing against the cam faces thereof, substantially as specified.

4. In means for automatically delivering the milk from the vacuum pipes of milking machines, in combination, a pivoted rocking frame arranged to rock transversely beneath the main vacuum milk pipe a pair of cans supported one upon each end of such frame, a pair of pipes extending across between the tops of the cans, each rovided with a block dividing the passage tlierethrough and with an opening in its wall on each side of such block, sleeves upon the intercepted ends of the main vacuum milk pipe and enveloping the respective pi 3% extending across bEt cell the cans, each 0 such sleeves being adapted to partially cover one of the openings in the pipe within it, while the other opening is in a position coincident with the passage through the main pipe, substantially as specified.

5. In means for automatically delivering the milk from the vacuum pipes of milking machines, in combination, a pivoted rocking frame arranged to rock transversely beneath the main vacuum milk pipe, a pair of cans supported one upon each end of such frame, connections extending between the cans and interceptin the main vacuum milk pipe, an outlet 1n the bottom of each can, a valve adapted to close such outlet and a counterweighted lever to one arm of which such valve is attached, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CYRIL EDMUND GANE.

\Vitnesses:

W. ALEXANDER, W. E. BROWN. 

